Emulsifier.



J. o. ALEXANDER.

111111191111111. APPLIOATION FILED HAY 194 1910.

Patented June 6, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

' J. ALEXANDER.

BMULSIFIER. l APPLIOATIOI FILED MAY 19, 1910. 994,554.

Patented June 6, 1911?'.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

on Nm..

To all whom it moy concern.-

UNITED srA'rns PATENT onirica.I

:Ames `onanieren mxannnn, F nochwas, cancion.

Be it known 'that LJAMES C. ALEXANDER,

' a citizen of the United States, residing at Roseburg, -in the county of Douglas and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inE'mulsiiers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates 'to a centrifugal machine for intermittently mixing fluids.

.An important object of this invention is to provide a device of the above character, which will intermittently mix fluids in an expeditious and continuous manner.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel form of bearing for the spindle of the mixing bowl, which will permit of the properrunning of the spindle and be adjustable for the purpose of taking up Wear. Other objects and advantages' of my in= vention Will be apparent hereinafter.

My invention consists generally in the are` rangement and combination of parte to be hereinafter described. i

In the accompanying drawings formin a part of this specification and in Which like numerals are employed to designatelike parts throughout the same, Figure 1 is a central vertical sectionthrough the device, parts being shown in side elevation. Fig. la is an enlarged View of the bearing for the lower end of the s indle 16, as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 2 is` an en arged central vertical section through the mixing' bowl and associated inembers.- Fig. 3 is a. horizontal sectional View taken on lille 3'4-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a similar View taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a side View of a spring member to 'beheieinafter referred to. Fig.y 6 is a hori-` zontal sectional view taken on line 6--6' of Fig'. 3. Fig. 7 is a fragmentaryvertical section -taken through one of the mixing plates,

- showing the corrugations formed upon the Sallie.

lIn the drawings Villustrating a 'preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 designates a suitable base or support, which is provided at its upper en d with a horizontally arranged flange 2. Upon this flange 2 is arranged a casing 3, which has its lower integral The upper end of the casing 3 is formed open and is provided with an outwardly eX- ran fied within t miniemen.

- Spe'iicatlonlof Letters atehti tentd Juni@ 6, l '1, Application mea may i9, 191'0. Serial No. 32,1841

tending flange 6, which isadapted to receive thereon a cover 7. This cover is detachably and rigidly secured to the flange 6 by ine-ans of bolts 8, which carry upon their screw threaded ends nuts '9 as shown.

Within the casing 3 is arranged c driving pinion i0, which is rigidly mounted upon a horizontally disposed sl'iaftll suitably jour-4 nalcd through the walls of the casing 3. This shaft extends through and beyondone of the Walls and may be rotated at a desired speed by any suitable means. The pinion 10 meshes .with a smaller pinion 12, which is rigidly mounted upon a suitably journaled horizontally disposed shaft'lt, which is l"- .ic casing 3 as shown. The shaft i3 has rigidly mounted thereon a iclatively largel worm=gear 11,1, which 2' meshes with a wo'r'in 15 formed upon'a vertically arranged spindle 16 as shovvn. This spindle A is mounted approiir'n:'itekly centrally Within the casing 3 and has' its lower end ref ducedto form a trusteconical portionl. ,This frueto-conical -portion ijs provided shown with a cylindrical opening' y18, adapt- 'ed to receive a friction member 18a, which has its'lower end conceived as shewn at 18", to receive the upper reduced end of an adjustable bearing screw 19. The bottom 4 of the casing 3, is shown as formed vvith a curved portion 20 to allow suicient lspace for the pinion 10. l i

provided with a circular o cning 21, which This curved portion is is shown as bein ysurroiin ed by, a cylindrical flange 22. T is cylindricalangeis iliternallyscrew threaded as at 23 for the reception of an externa-l screw 'threaded annular bearing 24., lwhich is provided as' Shownv with a clampingring 25'. The annular bearing 24 is provided centrally thereof 'with an axial opening 26, within which are formed screw threads A26a for 'engagement with the screw threaded portion of screw 19. The screw 19 is accordingly vertically adjustable in order that thc spindle may be raised or lowered when necessary, to conipensate for the wear between friction linem ber 18a and screw 19. The screw 19 is' provided upon its screw threaded portion as shown 'with clamping ring 27, which engages the annular bearing' 24 andllocks the screw 19 in a desired position. portion of the axial opening 26 of the annular bearing 24i is formed frusto-conical as shown, for the reception of the frusto-conical portion 17 of the spindle 16. By the he upper contruction .above described it-will be obvious-that the spindle is securelysuppofrlted yet free to rotate with a minimum tion.

The cover7 has formed substantially centrally thereof an vupstandin vcylindrical housing 29. The upper end o the cylindri- "This extension 38b is ada ted to fit w1th1n cal housing 29 is formed open, while the lower end of the same is closed by a head 31, which is provided at its center with a circular opening 32. The spindle 16 extends through t e opening 32 and the housing 29 as shown, and 1s journaled within said hous- 1ng in a manner to be described. The spindle 16 is journaled throu h a sleeve or bearing 33, which is preferab y formed of bronze or any other suitable material. This sleeve is disposed within the housing 29 and is shown as tapering from its center toward its ends.` Each end of the sleeve 33 is shown as being Yprovided with longitudinal slots 34, which are preferably four in number, and allow the 'ends of said sleeve to be brou ht into-proper engagement with -the spindle 16, when such adjustment is necessary, which is caused by the wearing away of parts by friction. The sleeve 33 is screw threaded asl shown at 35, for engagement with clamping rings 36, which when screwedup upon the sleeve 33 will cause its ends to sultably engage the spindle 16 as above described. Attention is calledA to the fact that there is an annular space ,36l between the clam ing rings 36 and the housing 29,

which wi l permit of said rings being movedV laterally,l as will be hereinafter apparent.

Within the housing 29 is arranged a spring member designated' as a whole b the lnumeral 33, which comprises a cylin rical body portion33, upon which are formed outwardly bent spaced strips 33h. The strips 33" formingl pairs of the same extend in opposite directions to engage the inner l surface of housing 29 near its lower end and center, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. fThe cylindrical body portion 33 of thespring member33 enga es the clamping rin 36 as shown, and t ereby tends to hol the bearing sleeve 33 in 1ts proper concentric position with'relation to the housing 29, yet said spring member 33 will be sufliciently resilient. to permit of slight lateral movements ofthe spindle 16l when first started, until'the spindle attains its full or proper speed, whent-it will automatically retain its vertical position as a top does.

The spindle 16 has its upper end reduced;

as shown'at 36", whichreduced portionlis ,6d ypreferably formed cylindrical and provided at its upper end with a semi-cylindrical cut out portion 36.l A cylindrical mixin bowl 37 1s arranged above and concentric with relation to the spindle 16. This mixing bowl is provided with a bottom 37, which has a downwardly extending tubular portion 37b formed centrally thereon, which is adapted to be removably arrangedupon the reduced portion 36". The bottom 37 of the mixing bowl 37 is provided centrally thereof with a screw threaded opening 37 d, within which is arranged a screw 38, which in turn is provided with a' semi-cylindrical extension 38".

the cut out portion36c an prevent the rotation of the mixing bowl 37 upon the spindle 16. -The upper end of the bowl 37 is formed open and externally screw threaded as at 38, for engagement with a downwardly extending iange 39 of a suitable cover 40. Itis to be understood that the cover 40 may be secured upon the' bowl 37 in any desired manner. This cover is shown as being provided cetrally thereof with an openlng 41 for a purpose to .be hereinafter described.

The cover 7 has formed u on its upper surface a cylindrical collecting receptacle 42, which is concentric-with relation to the bowl 37. This collecting receptacle is provided as shown with a suitable cover 43. This pover 43 is provided centrally thereof with a supply pipe 45, which extends through the opening 41 to within the mixing bowl 37. The cover 43 is, further prov1 e d with a circular upstanding-ange 46, v

which is concentric with relation to the pipe 45 and forms together with l a portion of cover 43, a funnel for supplying material to within the mixing bowl 37 Within the mixing bowl 37'v are arranged points upon the lower surfaces of the plates 47 and 48 as shown.l These projections 49 are disposed in vertical rows as shown, andare provided with registering openings 50,

'for .the reception of pins 51. These pins have their lower ends. rovided with' heads 51, which are arrange within the openings 50 upon the lowermost platev 47, as shown. These headse51 are, provided with projections'51", which are adapted to be removably arranged within openings 51, formed within the upper surface of said lowermost bottom 37. The pins 51 extend as shownthrough the uppermost plate 47 and are screw threaded as shown at 52, for engagement withnuts 52". 47 is provided at its center with a bracket 52, which is provided with an aperture 52d. By the construction above described it is obvious that the plates 47 and 48 are normally locked together by means of the pins 51, and that these plates may be separated from each other for the pur ose of cleansing the same. It is to be un erstood that the plates 47 and 48 when locked together may be readily -removed from within the bowl The uppermost plate tacle is provided at one side with a 37, by the operator inserting .a hook or the like into the aperture 52d and accordingl are provided centrally thereof with openings 52. The plates 47 and 48 may preferably have their surfaces corrugated or provided with radially arranged ribs'53. See

lF ig. 7. The plates 47 have a circumference somewhat smaller than the internal surface of the bowl 37, whereby an annular Space 54 is provided, which permits of fluids passing from the upper plate 47 to the lower plate 48. Theplates 48 have a circumference approximately equal to the internal surface ofl the bowl 37 as shown, whereby the periphery of said plates-48 lits snugly within the bowl 37.

The fluids when fed to the plates 48 travel inwardly and ass through the openings 52 to the plates 4%. The mixing bowl is pro-A vided at its bottom and preferably at diametrically opposite points with discharge openings 55, -which ,are adaptedy to deliver the contents of the bowl 37 into the collecting receptacle 42. This collectirg recep` ischarge pipe 56, which is to have communication with a suitable receptacle for collecting the liquids'discharged from the machine. V The cover 7 is vprovided upon opposite sides of the collectin receptacle 42, with upstandi'ng annular anges 58, which are internally screw-threaded for the reception of the screw-threaded endsv 59 of tubular supports'60. The tubular supports 60 have their upper ends externally screw-.threaded as shown at 61 for engagement with trays 62 as shown. These trays are horizontally Iso arranged and vprovided with peripheral-upstanding flanges `63. Upon Lthe trays 62 .are arranged suitable receptacles 'or bowls 64, which are provided with-reduced bases 65 adapted to fit snugly within the lianges 63 'of the trays. Each of the bowls 64 is provided near its base 65 with a discharge pipe 66,.which carries upon its free end a stop-cock 67, for controlling the same. vThis stop-cock 67 is disposed to deliver material within the liange 46 as shown.

As clearly shown in Fig. 2, the collar 33 is provided upon its inner surface and at its center with a groove 68, within which is arranged a section of felt or suitable fibrous material designated by the numeral 69. A

ipe 70 passes through a suitable opening 7,1 in the housing 29 -and delivers oil upon theupper clamping ring 36. This oil travels inwardly toward the spindle 16 and a portion of. the same passes between collar 33 and said spindle and finally to the section of felt 69. This section of felt absorbs the oil or lubricant and constantly supplies the same to the spindle 16: The oil is fed to the pipe 70 from an o1l cup 71, which as scribed, a mixin shown is suitably connected toy the u per y,y end of said pipe 70. An annularcover 3 is elevating said plates. The plates 47 and 48 vare alternately arranged and the plates 48 suitably connected as at 74 to the wall 'of the collecting receptacle 42, and closes the upper end of the housing 29, to prevent any of the lubricants from passing into the collecting chamber 42 from said housing 29.

In the operation of the machine the liquids to be mixed are placed in these'arate bowls 64, and the proper amount o each liquid ermitted to llow through the stop-- cock "67) and to the funnel formed b the flange 46. These liquids are first fe into the funnel formed by the flange 46 and then together pass through the pipe 45 and upon t e uppermost plate 47 within the mixing bowl.`- The mixing bowl is now being rotated at a high speed and this causes the liquids to ltravel toward the periphery of the plate 47, until they reach the opening 54 when the same will fall upon the plate 48. It is thus seen that the liquids are made to travel in a horizontal late 47 and at the same time being sub- Jeeted to the action ofthe corrugations formed upon this plate, which will tend to .thoroughly mix the same. As more of the liquids are fed upon the plate`-48, the liquids previously fed upon the same will be forced inwardly toward the opening 52,'until they reach said openin when the liquids will be deposited central y upon the next lower` -plate 47. The mixture of the liquids then travels upon this plate 47 in a similar manner as before described, and the operation is continued alternately from the plate 47 plane -upon the i to the plate 48, unt-il the mixture reaches the i bottom of the mixin bowl, when it will be discharged through t e'openings 55 into the collecting receptacle 42. The liquids after having been thus passed through vthe mixing bowl are thoroughly mixed. The liquids then" pass from the collecting receptacle 42 by way of pipe 56 to any suitable form of'colq lecting receptacle. I

Having lly described my invention, I claim:

i 1. In an emulsier 'of the Vcharacter debowl provided near its lower end with ischarge means, means to feed material within theupper portion of said mixing bowl, ya plurality of spaced superposed plates arranged within said bowl, said plates being so `constructed that material 'is made to travelin opposite direction upon alternate plates, during the downward iis movement'of such material toward said diss 'charge means, and means to rotate said in, one of the plates being constructed to permit of the passage of material down- 1.30

" scribed, a' collecting wardlyV near its periphery, another of the plates being so constructed that material is permitted to pass downwardly near the center of the same, whereb such material is- 5 made to travel in one irection upon one plate and in a reversedirection u on the other plate, during the travel of suc material toward the dlscharge means, means to feed material tothe upper plate, and means to rotate said bowl.

3. In an emulsiier of 'the character described, a mixing bowl .provided with discharge means near the lower end thereof, a plurality of spaced superposed plates disposed within said bowlabove the discharge means,.' alternate plates having greater di\l ameters so that the same engage the wall of said bowl, the plates withD the greater diame- .ters being provided substantially centrally thereof'with openings formed therethrough, whereby material is made to travel in oppo site directions upon alternate plates, means to lock said plates together and detachably connect the same with said bowl, means to rotate said bowl, and means to collect the discharge from said bowl. Y

l 2 1'. In an-emulsifier of the character described, a mixing bowl provided with discharge means near its lower end, a plurality of superposed spaced approximate y horl- 'zontal plates arranged within said mixing.

bowl above the discharge means, .alternate plates having greater diameters so thatlthe same engage the wall of said bowl, the plates with the greater diameters bein rovided substantially centrally thereof wit openin formed therethrough, whereby material -1s mad-e to travel in opposite dlrection upon valternate plates, `means'to lock said ,-plates '4 together and detachably secure thesame to said bowl for rotation therewith means to feed material upon the upperniostl plate,

. means to rotate said bowl, and aeeollecting' receptacle surrounding said bowl for receiv-l 5 ing the discha 'form-the same.

5. In an em siiel:` of ythe character described, a mixing bow1,a spindle connected therewith, a collecting receptacle surrounding said mixingv bowl, said mixing bowl'bei 5 ingfqarovidedwithdischarge means near the lower end 'theref,vv a 4plurality of spaced superposed plates arranged Within said bowl, alternate plates having greater-diameters so that ithe-same en age the wall of said bowl, .the plates with t e greater diametersfbeing provided substantially centrally thereof with openings formed therethrough, wherel means to rotate sald spindle'.

by material is made to' travelinj opposite directions uponalternate plates, means to' detachably lock said'plates together and, de-l tachably secure the same to said bow'l, and

means -to rotate said spindle.

6. Ing anemulsiier of the character de receptacle, as indieI to coperatie` therewit :said spindle and provided near .its lower provided substantially centrally thereof with t 7.5

openings formed therethrough, whereby I naterial is made to travel in opposite directions upon alternate plates, a plurality of bolts tov detachably lock\said plates together, said bolts being provided with means whereby the .same may have detachable connection with said bowl, means to vrotate said spindle,

and saidl collecting receptacle extendin above said bowl for forming means to hol material to be fed to the upper portion of 8.5 saidbowl. Y ,y

7. In' an emulsifer ofthe'character described, a collecting receptacle, a spindle to coperate therewith, Aa mixing bowl disposed within said collecting receptacle and removably mounted upon said spindle said mixing bowl being provided near its ower yend with'v discharge means, a plurality of superposed spaced plates arranged within said mixing bowl aboveY said dischar e means', alternate plates having greateriameters so that the same engage the 4wall of ,said bowl, the lplates with-the eater diameters being provided substantia y centrally thereofw1th openings formed there- `100 p through, whereby material is made to travel in opposite directions upon alternate plates, means to retain said lates in such spaced relation, a plurality ofv olts to' lock s'ald plates together, the lower end of said bowl being provided with recesses', said bolts being provided, with extensions adaptedto fit 1within said recesses, means to rotate'said spindle, and means to feed material to-the upper end ofsaidbowl'.

`8. In an emulsiier ofthe character described, a spindle, a bowl connected with endqwith discharge means', a plurality 'of superposed Y said bowl, alternateplates havlng different diameters and 'provided withl` openings -formed therethrough, -means to feed ma? terial into said bowl upon -the uppermost vplate tocause the vsame to travel' in opposite 12,0 directionsv upon alternate plates, and gravltate tcward .said ldischarge means, and x 9. In an emulsifier' of the character. described, a, spindle, a bowl connected with 'said spindle and provided near its lower l end with" discharge means, a plurality ofA superposed spaced corrugated f plates arA J ranged within said'bowl, alternate corrugated plates having different diametersand' A136 'spaced' plates arranged within 11,5

through, means to feed material into said v bowl upon the uppermost plate to cause the same to travel. in tptpposite directions upon alternate corruga plates and gravitate toward said discharge means, and means to rotate said spindle.

10. In an emulsifier of the character de# scribed, a mixing bowl provided with dis'- charge means near the lower end thereof, a plurality of plates arran ed within said' mixing bowl, said 'plates ing of such a character lthat material is made to travel opposite directions on alternate plates, during the downward movement of such material toward the dischar e means, and means to rotate said mixing owl.-

11. In an emulsifier of the character-described, a mixin bowl provided near its lower Iend with discharge means, a pluralit of plates arranged within said mixinglbow alternate plates having greater diameters so that the same engage the wall of said bowl,

, the plates withthe greater diameters being providedNnear their centers vwith means to permit the passage of material through'the same, whereby such material is made to travel in opposite directions upon alternate i side o sai greaterf dlameterso that the same engagesplates and downwardly toward the discharge means,l means to feed material' t'o the upper portion of' said bowl for engagement with `said plates, and means to effect the rotation'of said bowl.

V12. In an emulsifier of the character described, a `mixing bowl provided near the lower end thereof 'with discharge means, superposed spaced plates arranged within said bowl above said dischar 'e means, one of the` plates having a su iently small diameter so that a space' is provided between the ,eriphery'of said plate and the d) bowl, the other plate being of the side of said bowll to prevent the passage of material therebetween, the plate with the greaterdiameter being .,provlded near its center withe an opening formed ytherethrough, and means to effect the rotation of said b.owl.` 't l In testimon whereof I aix my signature in presenceo twofgwitnesses.

CHRISTIAN ALEXANDER.

Witnessesi IL.' A. SANo'rUAnr, 

